Math 6 Honors (Period 6 and 7)

Circles 4-6

A circle is the set of all points in a plan at a given distance from a given point O (called the center).
A segment joining the center to a point on the circle is called a radius ( plural: radii) of the circle. All radii of a given circle have the same length and the length is called the radius of the circle.

A segment joining two points on a circle is called a chord... and a chord passing through the center is a diameter of the circle. the ends of the diameter divide the circle into two semicircles. The length of a diameter is called the diameter of the circle.
Two radii equal one diameter-- a fact we will use in the formulas below

The perimeter of a circle is called the circumference and the quotient

circumference ÷ diameter is the same for all circles--> regardless of size
This quotient is denoted by the Greek letter ∏ ( pronounced "pie")
No decimal gives ∏ exactly
No fraction gives ∏ exactly, either

A fairly good approximation is either 3.14 or 22/7

If we denote the circumference by C and the diameter by d we can write

C ÷ d = ∏
This formula can be put into several useful forms.

Let C = circumference d = diameter and r = radius
Then:

C = ∏d
d = C/∏

C = 2∏r
and
r = C/(2∏)

We tried a few examples.
Using ∏≈ 3.14 and rounding to three digits, as described by our textbook.
The diameter of a circle is 6 cm. Find the circumference.
WE are given d and are asked to find C.
WE use the formula
C = ∏d
C ≈ 3.14(6) = 18.84
C ≈ 18.8
So, the circumference is approximately 18.8 cm


The circumference of a circle is 20 feet. Find the radius.
To find the radius, use the formula
r = C/(2∏)
r = 20/2∏
Simplify first
r = 10/∏
r ≈ 10/3.14
r ≈ 3.1847
Since the third digit from the left is in the hundredths' place, round to the nearest hundredth.
r ≈ 3.18
The radius is approximately 3.18 feet

A polygon is inscribed in a circle if all of its vertices are on the circle. Check on the diagram in our textbook on page 129-- we added that to our notes as well.

Three noncollinear points (not on a line) determine one and only one circle that passes through the three given points.